Middlesex v Sussex
Yesterday I went to Lords as a guest of Duggie Heath.
This fixture in my youth was played on the August Bank Holiday and attracted a crowd of 10,000 but at the most there were 5,000 spectators at Lords with the Edrich, Mound and Tavern stands all closed.
It was an attritional day of cricket.
Sussex came off the best at 297-4 with Chet Pujara closing in on a century. Our conversation was less on Sussex’s successful start to the season and more on the demise of Middlesex.
This county, which provided a conveyor belt of cricketers to England and dominated domestic cricket, has been on its uppers for some time now.
Part of the problem is Lords itself. Undoubtedly an attraction, Middlesex are tenants of the MCC and are contemplating moving to a new ground.
All non-Test match counties suffer from financial problems.
Their turnover at £3-5 million is not much higher than a small business or professional practice. Some – including a lawyer in our group – believe corporate share holding, not membership, is the answer.
If so, I would worry how well the club’s assets, notably the ground, would be at risk.